Winter Rep warms the Walton
MBT show lovingly skewers musicals
by Christopher Key
This is a great time of year for theatre buffs in Bellingham. After the holiday break, it seems like most of the companies in the area have shows going up in February and part of the challenge is trying to see them all. Especially if you happen to be in one of them. Because of that, I had to review a tech rehearsal of Musical of Musicals opening Wednesday at Mount Baker Theatre’s wonderful smaller space. I’ve sung the praises of the Walton Theatre before and this is another production that should make us all thankful for the venue.
I’ve also sung the praises of Mark Kuntz’s Summer Rep program from the very beginning and it’s gratifying to see it expand its reach. Reviewing a tech rehearsal is like being in the delivery room when someone is giving birth. It can be rather excruciating at times, but there is no better way to witness the miracle of birth.
The midwives in this process are the director, the stage manager and the lighting/sound technicians. Techies are perfectionists by nature and this can often try the patience of actors because it’s not all about them. Kuntz has a knack for recruiting top onstage talent and this group of actors showed me that they are true professionals by keeping the energy high and the egotism low. More about them in a moment.
Watching Kuntz at work is also a treat because he manages to be very low-key and yet extremely meticulous. This is why his productions have the snap and polish that keeps audiences coming back for more.
In this case, the more is a show that will delight even those who are somewhat jaded by that uniquely American art form known as The Musical. Musical of Musicals is a thoroughly delightful send-up of all those shows that have defined the genre over the years. Eric Rockwell wrote the music that slyly quotes from nearly every show you have ever seen without actually committing outright theft. Joanne Bogart’s lyrics are wickedly funny without mortally wounding anyone.
The plot involves someone who can’t pay the rent. Rockwell and Bogart then interpret that through five acts invoking the styles of Rodgers and Hammerstein, Stephen Sondheim, Jerry Herman, Andrew Lloyd Webber, and Kandler and Ebb. Along the way, they manage to call on every musical cliché you have ever seen and some you haven’t. The result is a devastatingly funny and obviously loving tribute.
My granddaughter tells me that when I carry on at length about the structure of the show and the technical aspects, it means I was trying to be diplomatic and not come right out and say I hated it. Let this be a lesson to her and to you. I love this show and hope I can see the finished product.
The cast of Musical of Musicals at the MBT's Walton Theatre delivers a performance that will leave fans of the genre gasping with laughter and delight. - Photo credit: Sandi Heinrich
Now, about those actors. Obviously, I didn’t get to see them strut their stuff under optimal circumstances. What I did see was a very cohesive ensemble cast that portrays archetypal musical characters with exceptional energy and sensational style. Their acting chops are impeccable and their voices are better than many of the actors who played in the originals. In no particular order, they are Joshua Quesada, Deanna Davis, Danny Kam and Molly Corcoran. Their accompanist and narrator of the show is Michael Nutting, a gifted pianist who kept us all entertained at tech rehearsal by playing musical vignettes ranging from the Beatles to Berlioz during the dead spots.
Musical of Musicals plays in the Walton Theatre February 10 – 28. Evening curtain times are at 7:30 and matinees at 3:00. See the Mount Baker Theatre Web site at www.mountbakertheatre.com for precise dates and times. Tickets are $20 for adults, $10 for students with ID and can be purchased online or by calling the MBT box office (360) 734-6080.
Winter Rep lives up to the rep of Summer Rep.
# # #